Protesters stage own program for SONA

MANILA, Philippines–Protesters along Commonwealth Avenue staged their own program an hour before President Benigno Aquino III would deliver his State of the Nation Address before Congress Monday.

Police said that the number of protesters was now estimated at 6, 500 as of 3 p.m. as various militant groups convened along the closed off section of Commonwealth Avenue’s northbound lane, particularly between Ever Gotesco Mall and the Convergys building.

In a separate interview, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said that their numbers were not below 8,000.

Reyes said that they filed for a permit to rally along Batasan Road but the Quezon City regional trial court failed to rule on their petition and instead reached a compromise with authorities.

During their program, militant groups criticized the alleged failure of the Aquino administration to imprison former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her family and officials of the previous government who they claimed committed graft and violated human rights.

“Of course we want [Arroyo] jailed but anti-Arroyo rhetoric is not enough to bring about needed reforms. Aquino has failed to deliver and he can no longer blame the previous regime for his own failures and shortcoming,” Reyes said.

Militant groups also criticized Aquino’s alleged failure to implement reforms during his first year, pointing out that the current state of the Philippines is no better than what it was when Arroyo stepped down from office.

“The yellow luster has faded. One year is enough to determine the direction that the current government is taking. Sadly, that direction appears no different from the one taken by the previous Arroyo regime,” Reyes said.

Protesters also called called Aquino an “inutil pangulo” [useless president] for also failing to act on the Hacienda Luisita dispute. Karen Boncocan